If you are looking to do a coyote swap in your Mustang but are wondering what kind of cost it will bring, check out our "How Much Does A Coyote Swap Cost" guide!
A Coyote swap can cost anywhere between $10,000 - $40,000 and higher, depending on the components you use. Since the introduction of the 5.0L Coyote motor in the 2011 Mustang GT, people have dreamed of engine swapping the powerful Coyote into the engine bay of their older pushrod Fox body mustangs, especially non- EFI Mustangs, as well as replacing less powerful modular engines in the SN95 and S197 Mustangs. One of the most common questions that we get now is, “How much does it cost to swap a Coyote into my Ford Mustang?”. You often hear of engine swaps that have stalled because the cost far surpasses the budget or expectation of the enthusiast. The price can vary in both directions, but the cost of a Coyote swap is not something that is for the faint of heart or light pocket enthusiast. We will provide a rundown of the main components needed to Coyote swap, the associated cost of these parts, and some money-saving tips.
Note: The cost of the parts and the total overall cost may vary on many different variables. This guide is to give a general cost overview.
The most expensive and largest varying item in cost in swapping a Coyote into a project will be the engine itself. As of 2023, there are three generations of Coyotes and a couple of unique variants of the Coyote, including the 5.2L flat-plane crank GT350 Voodoo engine and 5.2L supercharged GT500 Cobra Predator engine. This article will focus on the more common 5.0L Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 Coyote engines.
Purchasing new Coyote crate engines will be the most expensive option when purchasing your engine. Crate engines are usually limited to the latest generation of the Coyote unless you find a new take out of an older generation engine.
Money-Saving Tip:
Older generations of the Coyote engines are usually available from automotive recyclers for cheaper than purchasing a new crate engine. When purchasing a used motor, make sure to buy from a reputable business with documentation of the mileage, engine, and model Mustang from which the engine was removed. NOTE: F-150 engines in the Gen 2 Coyote and Gen 3 Coyote have a different firing order than the Mustang Coyote and will not work with most coyote control packs.
Coyote Swap Transmission Cost
Cost: $2,000-$6,000 + Cost of accessories
The next most expensive item on a Coyote swap will be the transmission you want to run with your engine, automatic or manual transmission. The transmission is the second thing you will need to find out before choosing your control pack but more on this subject later. There are many different options that you can go with when choosing a transmission. For more information on what transmission fits Coyote engines and what additional parts you will need for each transmission, visit our How to Coyote Swap article or view our current selection of transmissions.
Money-Saving Tip:
If you are Coyote swapping a Mustang that initially had a 4.6L modular motor, the transmission behind the 4.6L engine will work with the Coyote. The bellhousing bolt pattern on the 4.6L and 5.0L Coyote engines is the same.
Additional Cost:
Depending on the transmission that you are planning to run on your Coyote swap, keep in mind that there are always additional parts required to install your transmission. These parts include flywheel/flexplates, clutch, transmission cross members, fluids, mounts, driveshaft, etc.
Coyote Swap Engine Control Pack Cost
Cost: $1,800-$3,800
Once you have your engine and transmission picked out, your next big purchase will be the engine control pack, better known as ECU. Many engine control packs are on the market, and most are going to be specific to the generation Coyote that you are planning to install as well as the transmission that you are planning to run behind the engine. Click here to view our control packs and control pack accessories.
Pro-Tip:
When purchasing your control pack, make sure that you match the generation of Coyote to the control pack. Also, make sure that you match the transmission to the control pack. Some control packs, especially the Ford Racing/Ford Performance control packs for automatics, will only control the automatic transmission for which they were designed.
To install your engine to your Ford Mustang, you will need to purchase the correct k-member to your Mustang, depending on what year Mustangs you are swapping. This is the perfect time if you are looking to upgrade your k-member to a lightweight k-member for better overall performance.
Pro-Tip:
1979-1995 Mustangs will require the k-member to be changed to mount the Coyote engine to the Mustang correctly.
While the stock k-members can be used on the 1996-2004 Mustang, it is still highly recommended that an aftermarket tubular k-member is used when swapping your Coyote into 1979-2004 Mustangs. Aftermarket tubular k-members allow for additional clearance as well as some long tube headers are designed specifically with this additional clearance.
When using a stock k-member on your Coyote swap, Coyote swap oil pans will be required for additional clearance on the k-member.
1979-2004 - Most k-members will require the change to coil-overs which will incur additional costs.
Money-Saving Tip:
The newer 1996-2004 Mustangs will not require a new k-member for a Coyote engine to be mounted correctly. The 1996-2004 New Edge Mustangs will allow the Coyote engine to be mounted to the factory k-member when using 4.6L-based motor mounts.
2005-2010 Mustangs will not require a new k-member for a Coyote engine to be mounted correctly. Factory engine motor mounts from the 2005-2014 Mustang can be reused with the correct Coyote engine motor mount brackets.
Coyote Swap Brake Cost
Cost: $400-$1,500
Depending on the year model Mustang that you Coyote swap, it will determine if you are required to do additional modifications to the braking system. These modifications will include changing to a hydro-boost or manual brake system. Use the guide below to determine if you will need to swap brake systems when swapping a Coyote in your Mustang.
Requires Brake System Modifications:
1979-1995 Mustangs - Required - All models - If the car still has the original vacuum assist brake system, it will require to swap the vacuum-assisted brake booster to a hydroboost system or manual brake system.
1996-2004 Mustangs
3.8L Mustangs - Required - If the car still has the original vacuum assist brake system, it will require to swap the vacuum-assisted brake booster to a hydroboost system or manual brake system.
4.6L SOHC/DOHC Mustangs - Optional - If the car still has the hydroboost brake master cylinder, you may reuse this hydroboost system, and additional modifications to swap in a hydroboost master cylinder are not needed. If you want to change to manual brakes, this can be done but is optional.
Pro-Tip:
If you plan to run a hydroboost power brake setup, you will need to run a power steering setup to power the hydroboost master cylinder.
Coyote Swap Powersteering Cost
Cost: $700-$1,000
When Coyote swapping your Mustang, a decision that you will run into is if you want to run power steering or manual steering. Ford did not design coyote engines with a power steering pump setup, but the aftermarket has designed conversion kits to allow enthusiasts to retain their power steering on their Mustang.
Pro-Tip:
SVE has made piping hydroboost and power steering kits easier with premade plumbing kits designed on popular power steering pump kits.
Coyote Swap Fuel System Cost
Cost: $1,400-$3,000
Most control packs on the market will require your Mustang to run a return-style fuel system. Depending on the year of the Mustangs that you are coyote swapping, some years were equipped with the return-style fuel system. Even though these Mustangs are return-style fuel systems, to ease the installation of your Coyote, LMR recommends changing to an aftermarket return-style fuel system.
Pro-Tip:
With the Coyote engine producing 350+ horsepower, a minimum of 340 LPH is recommended on your Coyote swap. E85 and power adders like superchargers, turbo, and nitrous will require additional or larger fuel pumps.
Coyote Swap Exhaust Cost
Cost: $500-$2,500
Swapping the Coyote in place of your original engine will require some modifications to your exhaust systems. This is particularly true with the exhaust manifolds or headers on the engine. Depending on which engine and which model Mustang you are swapping the Coyote into will determine what modifications need to be done.
Money-Saving Tip:
Most midpipes for Coyote swap headers are designed to bolt up to your existing catback on 1985-2004 Mustangs. Purchasing headers with midpipes designed for Coyote swaps may save you money and time of having custom exhaust modifications.
Pro-Tip:
When choosing long tube headers, be sure to double-check the fitment notes for the transmissions that they fit and the k-members that they are designed to work with. Not all headers are designed the same.
Coyote Swap Cooling System Cost
Cost: $200-$1,500
With the design of the Coyote engine, electric fan conversion is required on Mustangs that originally had a manual fan setup (1979-1993). This is also a great time for you to upgrade your stock radiator to a larger radiator for improved cooling with your new Coyote engine.
Pro-Tip:
1979-1993 Mustangs, we recommend the Contour high volume fan kit to provide adequate cooling.
1979-1995 Mustang will require a 2011+ style or custom overfill.
Money-Saving Tip:
Factory radiators can be used on Coyote swaps. Correct Coyote swap hoses will be required.
1994+ Mustangs can reuse the factory cooling fan with custom wiring. Due to the high amperage draw of the factory fans, LMR recommends a fan controller than can handle 60+ amp.
1996-2010 Mustangs may reuse their coolant overfill with the correct hoses.
Coyote Swap Air Conditioning Cost
Cost: $800-$2,000
If you want to keep your air conditioner when swapping your Coyote, many options are available to help you to retain your air conditioner for your swap.
1996-2010 Mustangs can reuse the air-conditioner compressor with additional modifications.
The above list will provide a general overview of the Coyote swap cost. As you can see, the cost can vary significantly depending on what parts your purchase. This list is all the main parts, but it is not a complete list. You should always factor in the cost of the small parts like fluids, gaskets, hardware, gauges, adapters, or other performance parts. If you are looking to make serious horsepower with your Coyote Mustang, this will be the time to upgrade your rotating assembly with forged pistons, rods, and crankshaft.
For more information on Coyote swaps, check out our other articles below!
A Fox Body Coyote Swap on your Mustang can be a very difficult and stressful task. We at LMR provide all the info needed to make this process go smoothly.
LMR employee Truman walks you through his 1999 Mustang GT Coyote Swap build. From repairing the tired 2v to going through 2 Coyote motors, this unique New Edge has quite the story!
About the Author
Neal has owned a 1996 3.8L, 2003 3.8L (Cobra Swapped), 2003 GT, 1998 3.8L (4.6L SOHC Swapped), 1990 GT Hatchback, 1990 GT Convertible, 2006 GT Single Turbo, and 2011 Twin Turbo/Cammed GT. Read more...
